Jammu: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir recently disposed of a plea by Iltija Javed challenging travel restrictions placed last year while issuing her a passport, after the Court was informed that these restrictions have since been withdrawn [Iltija Javed v. Union of India].
Iltija, who is the daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, was issued a “normal passport certificate with full validity” in August 2023, the Court was told.
The submission was made by Deputy Solicitor General of India (DSGI), TM Shamsi before Justice Sanjeev Kumar.
DSGI Shamsi told that Court that with the issue of the normal passport certificate, Iltija Javed’s grievance stood addressed. In this regard, the DSGI also submitted a communication issued by the Passport Officer at Srinagar from August 2023.
In light of this submission, the Court closed Iltija’s plea.
“From reading of the communication aforesaid, it clearly transpires that the Passport Officer has considered the request of petitioner (Iltija Javed) and in view of the fact that there is nothing adverse reported against him by CID and also having regard to age and future career of the petitioner, the passport office has issued a normal passport certificate with full validity to the petitioner. In view of aforesaid, there remains nothing in this petition for adjudication and, therefore, this petition rendered infructuous and is, accordingly, disposed of,” the Court said.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
By way of background, a conditional passport earlier issued to Javed was argued to have restricted the scope of her travel abroad as it prescribed that she could only travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and only for the purpose of her higher studies.
Subsequently, Iltija moved the Court challenging the same and also registered objection to the validity period of the passport which was for two years (till April 2025), whereas passports generally have a ten-year validity period.
Iltija’s counsel, Senior Advocate Jahangir Iqbal, had argued during a court hearing in July 2023 that the decision to impose conditions while issuing Iltija’s passport was an arbitrary restriction that violated her right to travel abroad, which is guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
Months later, in August 2023, Iltija was issued a normal passport with a ten-year validity (normal validity period). In view of this development, the Court has now closed her plea.
None appeared on behalf of Iltija Javed on February 16, when the order closing her case was passed.
DSGI TM Shamsi and Deputy Advocate General Syed Musaib represented the respondent-authorities.